welcome to bbc news. broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. my name is mike embley. our top stories: an airstrike by the saudi—led coalition in yemen hits a school bus, killing and injuring dozens of children. vice—president pence unveils plans for a new space force, a sixth branch of the us military. as the rouble slumps, moscow threatens retaliatiation against the new us sanctions, punishing russia for the nerve agent attack on a former spy and his daughter. a killer whale captures the world's attention in a terrible way, for 16 days she's been carrying her dead calf on her back. we learn more about the threat to the species. the red cross says one of its hospitals has received the bodies of 29 children, killed in an airstrike on a school

bus in a rebel—held area of northern yemen. 30 other children are among scores of people injured. the saudi—led arab coalition, backed by the us and uk, has defended the attack in saada, saying it was a "legitimate military action" aimed at a missile launcher. for more than three years, yemen has been divided by a ferocious civil war. but it's also a proxy war. on one side is the internationally recognised government led by president mansour hadi, backed by a saudi—led arab coalition, supported by the us, the uk and france. on the other side are houthi rebels, allied with iran. the united nations says the conflict has caused terrible suffering. 8 million yemenis face famine and three—quarters of the population need humanitarian aid. the new un special envoy to yemen, in his first interview, has told the bbc the country faces "collapse," unless a political solution is found. our chief international correspondent lyse doucet has this report, you're likely to find much of it distressing. school bags on their backs, shock in their eyes.

children who'd been heading for a day out. a yemeni child's day ends like this all too often. many in hospital beds. today, three to a bed — and many more dead. this man says an air strike in the market targeted the children's bus. "our shops were open", he says, "shoppers were just walking around." this was the school bus in a rebel controlled town. but the saudi—led coalition says it targeted missile launchers, taking aim at saudi cities, accusing the houthis of using children as human shields. an ugly proxy war, in a country teetering on the brink of collapse.

i asked the un's envoy, what if this war doesn't stop? collapse, and massive, massive humanitarian suffering in yemen. and the effect of that on the region — a possible increase in terrorist activities in yemen. al-qaeda, islamic state? so a failed state in yemen has extraordinary consequences for the region, and the wider region and beyond. for that reason, we need to act now. yemen is already the world's worst humanitarian crisis. more of its people rely on food aid like this than anywhere else in the world. millions on the verge of starving. a people desperate for peace, but many doubtful. translation: the warring sides don't want stability for yemenis

or the yemeni people to be masters of their own state. translation: we have had countless rounds of talks. they all failed. but the situation in yemen is now so bad, maybe there is a glimmer of hope that this conflict can be resolved. mr griffiths believes all sides are now ready for a political solution. the attacks are continuing, and the saudi—led coalition was backed by the united states, britain, france, providing weapons and support. that's something we will be discussing in geneva. myjob is to provide the opportunity for the people of yemen to sit down and talk peace. that is what we are here for. we're here to do that in a way that is consistent with security council resolutions, which include the requirement for disarmament and withdrawal of forces. that's the best answer, in my view, to the question about armaments on both sides.

houthi rebels armed and trained by iran are still fighting too. both sides say they're ready to attend talks in geneva next month. the first in two years after two failed rounds. if they keep failing, yemen itself will fail. lyse doucet, bbc news. the us vice president has laid out plans to create a sixth branch of the military, a so—called space force. mike pence suggested russian and chinese threats justify the military expansion and he promised a space force department will be ready by 2020. there's already a logo and he'll be asking congress for about $8 billion to fund it. now the time has come to write the next great chapter in the history of

oui’ next great chapter in the history of our armed forces. to prepare for the next battlefield where america's best and bravest will be called to deter a new generation of threats to oui’ deter a new generation of threats to our people, to our nation. time has come to establish the space force. —— the time has come to establish the united states space force. more on this now from tim fernholz. he's a senior reporter with quartz and hejoins us from san francisco. on the face of everything, they cannot find money for other projects but they can find $8 billion for this, but there is a threat that the us wants to combat. yes there is, there is a lot going on behind their space force, but the reality is that spaceis space force, but the reality is that space is important to the us military. it hasn't always been great in doing itsjob in recent yea rs, great in doing itsjob in recent years, so great in doing itsjob in recent years, so they want a new branch to focus on this. president trump has

seized on this idea and made it to be part of his national security strategy and it has been controversial for a while. originally the military establishment was not in favour of this, especially the us air force, which handles all military space operations right now, but it seems that the president has had his way. the big question, as you say, is whether congress will pay for this new service, especially at the time we re new service, especially at the time were us forces are deployed in a number of conflicts around the world. and presumably that vote in congress would have to be after the november mid—term is, that could potentially a tricky. yes indeed. democratic congress will not be giving in to the president's priorities without extracting a price he may not want to pay more but we are going to have to see how the election plays out before we do a forecast of that. there are good national security arguments to do this, that it would make us fighting more effective and away to watch out

for the north korea weapons programme or effectively ought to respond to russian and chinese and thai satellite tasks, although the unit ‘s has done this itself in the past. there were reports that the pentagon and the force were against this, do you know what swung them behind it? it is hard to say. i think politics had a place in the decision, they don't want to be going against the president. part of it is certainly bureaucratic, the us air force wants to defend its turf but at the end of the day the us military members that are closest space operations understand what it would be take for them to be centrally operated to deter threats. there are many who understand this and worry about it being implemented correctly and with real follow—through by the administration and by congress. briefly, what is your betting? you think it will

happen or it won't eventually? we will see. it could be a bargaining chip forfuture will see. it could be a bargaining chip for future congress, but the thing to look at is bipartisan state m e nts thing to look at is bipartisan statements released to date i keep lawmakers who have been behind this idea. both democrats and republicans. has been an agreement in congress that it is a idea, it is possible that president will make it a priority and see it enacted. thanks very much. with the announcement of new american sanctions sending the rouble tumbling in value, the russian leadership has condemned them as "absolutely unfriendly" and illegal under international law. kremlin officials say they're now working on retaliation. the sanctions, from the us state department, are punishment for the nerve agent attack on the skripals in the uk. the white house and president trump have yet to comment. steve rosenberg reports from moscow. in russia, there is one word that

you hear and you see with increasing frequency. state television announces that america has launched yet another round of sanctions against moscow. this time, washington is limiting exports to russia of sensitive technologies, some electronics, oil and gas production equipment. a response to the nerve agent attack on sergei and yulia skripal, an attack america says violated international law. today, moscow dismissed the allegations. down at the russian foreign ministry, they denounced the sanctions, and threatened retaliation. translation: whatever sanctions are taken against russia, reprisal measures will be identical. and this, less than a month after the helsinki summit, when donald trump told vladimir putin america and russia were destined for an extraordinary relationship. the kremlin doesn't blame donald trump personally

for the sanctions. it knows he's under pressure back home. it knows, too, that russia has few friends right now in washington, but there was a deep sense of disappointment here that the us president who says he wants better relations with russia simply hasn't delivered. russians are nervous. america is already threatening more sanctions in three months' time. the ruble has tumbled. people are starting to feel economic pain. in general, the quality of life becomes lower and lower, and this of course is worrying. russians seem resigned to more sanctions. they are expecting a very bumpy journey. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. here in the uk an independent report has found sexual abuse at two leading private catholic schools spanning 4 decades. the report says both institutions, ampleforth in north yorkshire, and downside in somerset, tried to cover up "appalling" abuse.

children as young as seven were sexually assaulted by a number of monks, who are described as "secretive, evasive and suspicious of anyone outside their benedictine order." this from our religion editor, martin bashir. they decorate some of england's most attractive landscapes. downside school, here in somerset, and ampleforth in yorkshire — described as resembling a harry potter world of beguiling charm. but within these golden monastic buildings from the 1960s onwards, some teachers sexually abused children as young as seven. piers grant—ferris was described as a sadistic and violent abuser at ampleforth's prep school, where he taught for ten years from 1965. seen here on the right in 2006, he was found guilty on 20 counts of indecent assault and was one of ten staff at the schools

to have been convicted or cautioned in the last 50 years. but, today's report said the true scale of abuse at ampleforth and downside is likely to have been much higher. this is a very hard—hitting, very serious report. as i say, over many years, it showed that the reputation of individuals and the reputation of the institution itself was far more important to people than the safety and protection of the children. former students described their experience. one said the abuse caused him to shut down emotionally. another victim at downside begged to be rescued. this charity is working with ampleforth on improving at safeguarding.

the only natural step for them is for outside regulation. that's the only thing that's really going to solve this issue. so, the safeguarding and organisations need to be externally regulated. the catholic church, back in 2001, published its own review of safeguarding, which contained 83 recommendations. but, according to today's report, ampleforth and downside paid no more than lip service to them. the report points out that, other than in the context of this inquiry, no public apology has ever been made to the victims. today, both schools issued statements, saying they acknowledged serious failings in the past and were trying to improve. martin bashir, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: as america's mid—term elections draw closer, we look at why more scientists than ever are putting their hats in the political ring. the big crowds became

bigger as the time of the funeral approached. as the lines of fans became longer, the police prepared for a hugejob of crowd control. idi amin, uganda's brutal former dictator, has died at the age of 80. he's been buried in saudi arabia, where he lived in exile since being overthrown in 1979. two billion people around the world have seen the last total eclipse of the sun to take place in this millennium. it began itsjourney off the coast of canada, ending three hours later when the sun set over

the bay of bengal. this is bbc news. the latest headlines for you: dozens of children have been killed and injured in yemen, after a saudi—led coalition airstrike hit a school bus. america's vice president sets a goal of 2020 for creating a new space force as the sixth branch of the us military. the number of people confirmed dead in the past week's earthquakes on the indonesian island of lombok has now more than doubled. officials say they know at least 250 were killed. since the most powerful quake, magnitude 6.9, at least 150,000 people have been homeless. mehulika sitepu reports from lombok. more than 350 aftershocks have been struck since the quake on sunday,

but this one was different. translation: this was my reaction, after my hotel was hit. i'm saying "i'm still shaking because i had to run from my hotel room on the third floor." the ceiling was collapsing, glasses shattered, walls cracked, but all guests were safe. their fear was clearly visible. sturdy buildings, like my hotel, 13 kilometres away from the epicentre in the north of lombok, can withstand the shock. but rickety houses, where most islanders, live cannot. that is why tens of thousands of people are now left homeless. these tents are now their homes. many are concerned of what will now become of them and their families. translation: i'm scared to leave. the only way is to stay. i hope the government tends

to our needs, and helps us to fix our homes. officials say creating temporary shelter has been a priority, as has the continuing search for survivors. promises have been made to rebuild, ensuring the future of every islander. mehulika sitepu, bbc news, lombok. a killer whale has captured the world's attention with a single desperate image. the 17 days, she has been carrying a dead calf on her back. the killer whale was spotted in waters off vancouver island. let's go live now. i know you are a senior scientist at the centre for whale research, you are the right person to ask this question. what is going on with this way all? well, i

kind of wonder if this mother whale is not putting on a bit of a demonstration for us humans that we have got to provide some more food in this ecosystem for the natural populations. well, it explained, unpack that the bit for us. -- explain. pardon, ididn‘t unpack that the bit for us. -- explain. pardon, i didn't get that. just exa ctly explain. pardon, i didn't get that. just exactly what do you mean? i know there is a problem with food source, we kind of want to avoid and from authorising what is going on here, it might assume she was carrying his calf in a form of mourning. yeah, we believe this is a form of grief, she has carried this baby now for about 1000 miles, 17 days, and she is back again. she was in front of victoria, vancouver a couple of weeks ago and now she has come back. it isjust couple of weeks ago and now she has come back. it is just amazing that she is still carrying this kaka. and how do you think the calf died?”

believe it was a perinatal trauma. the years killer whales have not had a successful birth in the pass the yea rs, a successful birth in the pass the years, and we know from prior necropsies that even the females are dying as a result of foetuses dying within them. —— calf. and it is all due to nutritional stress, they are just not enough general some left in the system and to feed them. —— chinook in. can they be directed to a different source? well, there are attem pts a different source? well, there are attempts that are going to be in tomorrow to try and feed her live fish. -- chinook in. the local indigenous people have gathered up the number of local people, they are

trying to go out in tanks and feed them now. -- chinook. we have seen a number of occasions where a mother is carrying a dead baby, this has now gone on for 17 days and 1000 miles, it isjust now gone on for 17 days and 1000 miles, it is just almost unbelievable that she is just that tenacious. and ultimately, what will happen? she would just let it go? well, it is just decomposing happen? she would just let it go? well, it isjust decomposing right now. when it surfaces, we see fluids and organs pumping out of the body of the carcass, so i think it will not be too long before it is just skin and bones. it is a desperate tale. thank you very much indeed. you bet, thank you. let's get some of the day's other news.

unconfirmed reports say israel and hamas have agreed a ceasefire after another 2a hours of violence. israeli aircraft hit more than 150 targets in gaza, killing a pregnant woman and her 18—month—old child. palestinian militants fired scores of rockets into israel, injuring several people. taiwan's government has dismissed a chinese plan to link the two with what would be the world's longest undersea rail tunnel, connecting northern taiwan with fujian province. it would be 135 kilometres long. it's reported chinese scientists are close to agreeing a design, but taiwanese officials say they will not even discuss the scheme. puerto rico has sharply revised the death toll from last september's hurricane maria. authorities have now raised the official number of victims from 64 to more than 1400. the us territory is asking congress for $139 billion in aid. scientists are a rare breed in the us congress. in fact, there is only one phd physicist in the house of eepresentatives.

but that might change come november's midterm elections. enraged by what they see as the trump administration's lack of respect for science and denial of climate change, more scientists are running for elected office than ever before. laura trevelyan reports. the administration, it is broken, just like when we were and the skin, i have an interest in healing both tissues and our nation. the government, they are not making sound policy because they are not using science to make policy. sound policy because they are not using science to make policylj sound policy because they are not using science to make policy. i feel very much lonely and overloaded, as many scientists do nowadays. very few of our elected leaders are scientists, but this year more scientists, but this year more scientists are running for office than ever before. truth is lacking in the national politics and that the state level, but also i think

there is a concern about the support for science in a nation. —— in our nation. i believe in climate change, thatis nation. i believe in climate change, that is like asking me if i believe in gravity. it is something that is observable, it is there. do scientists find it hard to get elected? scientists are not natural politicians, i would say. there are things that scientists are trained to do, solve problems, reaching up to do, solve problems, reaching up to people in general, scientists not at that. i often say there is a long list of things that have to be done to turn a scientist's rain into a politician's. will be one of the hardest things is to simply repeat your basic message again and again until you want to spit. it is tough but make scientific sense. you are lucky if the people who are thinking

about voting for you qi yu 15 seconds, and in that 15 seconds, it had better be your basic message. seconds, and in that 15 seconds, it had better be your basic messagem there were more scientists in politics, what would change? using science and technology as a basis for future jobs science and technology as a basis forfuturejobs is science and technology as a basis for future jobs is really where we need to go, we have seen how successful silicon valley is and i think bringing that to connecticut and throughout our nation is really how we are going to build a strong economy. we are used to thinking about how cells work and how the solar system works and things like that, so we understand complicated ideas. we're not hit to worry about party politics, we hit the solve problems, whatever those might be. just briefly, that main story again. dozens of children have been killed and injured in yemen, where saudi led coalition airstrike hit a school bus. you're watching bbc news. and of course, you'll find all the stories we've been covering

and many more on the bbc news app and on our website. you can reach me on twitter. thank you very much for watching. good morning. well, yesterday brought quite a change across the country. we had some welcome rain. nowhere near enough i know, but nevertheless i'm sure gardeners and growers out there are very happy. in fact, we had over an inch of rain in suffolk throughout the day, also some thundery downpours towards the end of the afternoon and into the evening. that area of low pressure which was responsible is drifting off into scandinavia, but something also that's interesting is behind that frontal system, it's introducing slightly fresher air in comparison to of late. that's allowing for a much more comfortable start to the day, chilly in some places with low single figures. so a bit of a change to the story. we've not lost summer completely, some of that warmth is set to return, but for today, it's a fairly straightforward day of sunny spells and

scattered showers. some of the showers will start to gather and become longer spells of rain, particularly in the south—east. looking at the afternoon, into the far north of scotland, showers should remain well scattered, a fresher feel to the afternoon though, with highest values around 15—17 degrees. that's the low 60s. a scattering of showers for northern ireland and northern england, some of those becoming frequent to the east of the pennines through the afternoon, and showers and longer spells of rain into the south—east. by the end of friday, most of those will have cleared away and then tempertaures are set to dip again, potentially into low single figures to start our weekend. but we will start the weekend on a positive note with a good deal of dry weather in the story, but a little more cloud starts to gather into the far south—west. and you can see the first signs of this frontal system, which will bring some rain as we go into the weekend. but really, that rain just pushing into cornwall, eventually it will move into the dorset coast as we go through the afternoon,

but for most of us it will be a dry, settled story. perhaps clouding over into the afternoon with temperatures up to around 16—22 degrees. with the sunshine in the south—east, that's going to feel reasonably pleasant. now, by sunday, it looks as though we will see some wetter weather, particularly across western areas. if anywhere is likely to stay dry, perhaps the east of scotland and the far south—east corner, and here it will be quite a humid feel with highs of around 2a or 25 degrees. that's the mid—70s fahrenheit. early part of next week through the northern half of the country continues with this fresher feel, but something a little bit brighter from tuesday onwards. further south, that little bit warmer, it looks as though that is where we are likely to see a little more in the way of sunshine, with highs of 25 degrees. this is bbc news. the headlines: at least 29 children have been killed and dozens more wounded in a saudi—led coalition air strike in yemen. the children were travelling on a bus that was hit at a market in the northern province of saada.

the coalition says its actions were legitimate. america's vice president, mike pence, has unveiled details of a new space force that could become the sixth branch of the us military. it is hoped the force will be up and running by 2020, but the plan still needs approvalfrom congress. moscow has vowed to retaliate after the us announced a new round of sanctions. the state department and cia concluded on wednesday that russia was behind the nerve agent attack on former spy sergei